Jabba Desilijic Tiure, mostly known across popular media as Jabba the Hutt, is a major antagonist in the Star Wars franchise. He is a fat, slug-like alien gangster, one of the most successful crime lords in the entire galaxy, and a member of the Hutt Clan and the Grand Hutt Council, as well as the archenemy of Han Solo and Leia Organa.
He is the most powerful crime boss on Tatooine, controlling the bulk of the traffic in illegal and iniquitous goods, piracy, and slavery that generated most of the planet's wealth. He is also highly authoritative and influential in the entire Outer Rim. He is initially an ally of Han Solo, but following a botched smuggling mission, Han falls out of Jabba’s favor and the Hutt places a large bounty on his head.
The Phantom Menace[]
In 32 BBY (before the Battle of Yavin), Jabba hosts the Podrace at the Boonta Eve Classic between Anakin Skywalker and Sebulba on Tatooine.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Movie[]
During the Clone Wars, Jabba's son Rotta is kidnapped by Count Dooku and Jabba's uncle Ziro the Hutt to convince Jabba to join the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Luckily, Anakin Skywalker, now a Jedi Knight, and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano save Rotta.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Series[]
Jabba had to help the Jedi during the Clone Wars. He also helped Darth Maul and Savage Opress to form the Shadow Collective.
A New Hope 20th Anniversary Special Edition[]
In 1997-onwards releases of the original film, Jabba meets Han Solo at the Millennium Falcon to demand the money the captain owed him and ask why he killed his henchman Greedo. Han then tells the Hutt that he has a charter and will pay him back with a little extra. Jabba agreed, but he made it clear that if Han failed again, he would put such a high price on Han's head that he would not be able to go anywhere without an army of bounty hunters waiting to collect it. During their conversation, Han accidentally steps on Jabba's tail. The last time Jabba is seen in this version is when he tells Boba Fett and others to get moving and they leave.
The Empire Strikes Back[]
Jabba does not appear in the sequel, but his motivations are pivotal to the plot. He has increased the bounty on Han’s head, leading Han to attempt to leave the Rebellion at the beginning of the film to repay his debt.
Boba Fett is hired by both Jabba and Darth Vader to capture Han (Vader also wants Princess Leia Organa, Chewbacca and C-3PO). When Vader kidnaps Han, he has him tortured for no reason and then frozen in carbonite as a test, planning to do the same to Luke Skywalker. He turns the frozen Han over to Boba Fett, who departs Bespin to deliver Han to Jabba.
Return of The Jedi[]
One year later, Jabba the Hutt had been holding a frozen Han Solo on his wall. He was in the first act of the film, where Leia, Chewbacca and Luke attempt to rescue their friend.
The captured Han is delivered to Jabba by Boba and placed on display in the crime lord’s throne room. Lando Calrissian, C-3PO, R2-D2, Leia and Chewbacca infiltrate Jabba's palace to save Han. Leia herself is soon enslaved by the Hutt, and she is forced to wear her iconic golden bikini along with being chained to Jabba. Soon afterward, Luke arrives to "bargain for Solo's life", but Jabba condemns Luke, Han and Chewbacca to the sarlacc. At the Great Pit of Carkoon, Luke escapes execution with the help of R2-D2 and defeats Jabba's thugs. During the subsequent confusion, Han accidentally knocks Fett into the sarlaac while Leia shuts off all the lights in the sail barge and strangles Jabba to death with the very chain he forced her into. With that, Luke, Leia, Han, Lando, Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2 manage to escape, blowing up the sail barge and killing Jabba’s remaining men as they flee the scene.
Legacy[]
Canon[]
After the explosion, the wreck of Jabba's sail barge is picked clean by Jawas and Tusken Raiders, with Boba Fett escaping the Sarlacc. Jabba's Majordomo Bib Fortuna, who managed to escape the explosion of Jabba's sail barge, makes his way back to Jabba's palace, where he seizes control of what is left of Jabba's criminal empire. Fortuna has none of Jabba's skill or influence, however, so Tatooine's underworld was quickly taken over by three crime families, leaving Fortuna only nominal power. Fortuna is also forced to pay tribute to Mos Espa Mayor Mok Shaiz due to Shaiz's connection with the Pyke Syndicate. For the next five years, he rules in Jabba's place, putting on a great deal of weight in the years after his Master's death. Fortuna spends the next five years ruling as a figurehead. Fortuna's career as a crime lord is cut short when Boba Fett returns, kills him, and takes over as Daiymo (Lord) of Tattooine. Jabba's twin cousins then decide to assert their claim to Jabba's empire. However, when the Pyke Syndicate begins making their own moves, the twins quickly abandon their claims to Tatooine.
Legends[]
As in canon history, the remnants of Jabba's sail barge are picked clean by the Jawas after Jabba's death, and the various members of Jabba's criminal empire fight among themselves for control. With no strong leader to take over after Jabba's death, his empire falls apart, freeing Jabba's debtors from being in "permanent hock" to the Hutt clan.
Trivia[]
- He inspired other villains such as Kraid from Metroid and Queen Slug for a Butt from Earthworm Jim.
Gallery[]
